"We want some action," Montoya said. "When I went out there, I was going for it. They told me be careful when you drive the car. I was like, 'Yeah, yeah.' "

Both Gordon and Montoya are winners at the speedway. Gordon won the Brickyard 400 in 1994, 1998 and 2001, and Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 in his first and only race in 2000.

Montoya spoke favorably of Gordon's car.

"It handles quite well in the corners," said Montoya, coming off a victory in the Monaco Grand Prix. "It's really good, especially in the higher speed corners because it moves around a lot and you can really play with it."

The two chatted in the garage about adjustments and expectations before taking their own cars out for a shakedown. The biggest change for Gordon was driving clockwise. He does that only twice _ on road courses in Sonoma, Calif., and Watkins Glen, N.Y. _ each year.

But the amazing stopping power of the F1 car surprised him.

"I stepped on the brakes the first time and the blood rushed out of my head," Gordon said.

Montoya went out first, went too fast and missed a turn. He found his way back on the right path and smoothly navigated the rest of his laps.

Montoya finished, and Gordon hurried over to the BMW.

"My turn!" Gordon shouted.

After a warmup lap, Gordon veered off into the grass before correcting himself.

"I just didn't slow the car down fast enough," he said. "I realized I carried a little too much speed in there."

The four-time Winston Cup champion said he always was a big fan of F1 and wanted to drive a car under the right circumstances. He got his chance, but it probably was a one-time shot. Gordon said it was too late to pursue an F1 career.

"I know to get to that next level, to be competitive on that circuit what it would take, and there's no way," he said. "I'm so content and happy with where I'm at.

"I have so many challenges in Winston Cup that I'll have my hands full for a long time."

The swap was done mainly as promotion for the Brickyard 400 on Aug. 3 and the U.S. Grand Prix on Sept. 28. Discussion about a swap started nearly two years ago between BMW and Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports team, but the schedule couldn't be worked out.

Gordon's NASCAR car was last used at Watkins Glen in 2001. Gordon has won six races with the car. Montoya's car last ran on a track at the end of the 2001 season.

There was no official timing system, so speeds weren't unavailable.

"I showed that I was going to push the car hard and I did," Gordon said.

Gordon wanted more laps in the F1 car, but there were no regrets.

"I went with the opportunities and what seemed to be the right path for me and that was NASCAR," he said. "Look what's happened to me. Three Brickyard 400s. I can't complain about that."